Opportunistic information and inventory exchange via serendipitous encounters of autonomous mobile robots

Abstract

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, a first autonomous mobile robot (AMR) encounters a second AMR, while navigating a location. The first AMR receives, from the second AMR, a task list of the second AMR. The first AMR determines an adjustment to the task list of the second AMR, based in part on a comparison between the task list of the second AMR and a task list maintained by the first AMR. The first AMR sends, to the second AMR, the adjustment to the task list of the second AMR.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 encountering, by a first autonomous mobile robot, a second autonomous mobile robot, while navigating a location; 
 receiving, at the first autonomous mobile robot and from the second autonomous mobile robot, a task list of the second autonomous mobile robot; 
 determining, by the first autonomous mobile robot, an adjustment to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot, based in part on a comparison between the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot and a task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot, and based further on priorities associated with items indicated in the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot and the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot; and 
 sending, by the first autonomous mobile robot and to the second autonomous mobile robot, the adjustment to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot, wherein the adjustment is configured to divert the second autonomous mobile robot from a portion of a path of its pick route along which the second autonomous mobile robot picks up items from the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot to deliver to their corresponding delivery locations, to take over, from the first autonomous mobile robot, collection and delivery of an item associated with the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot to its corresponding delivery location. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot indicates a set of one or more items to be collected by the second autonomous mobile robot, an intended route of travel that the second autonomous mobile robot intends to travel, and a manifest of any items being transported by the second autonomous mobile robot. 
     
     
       3. The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 navigating the location, by the first autonomous mobile robot, based on the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the first autonomous mobile robot communicates directly with the second autonomous mobile robot. 
     
     
       5. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot comprises removing a particular item from the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot and adding the particular item to the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot. 
     
     
       6. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot comprises adding a particular item to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot and removing the particular item to the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot. 
     
     
       7. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the first autonomous mobile robot encounters the second autonomous mobile robot randomly in the location. 
     
     
       8. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the first autonomous mobile robot encounters the second autonomous mobile robot at a prearranged place in the location. 
     
     
       9. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot is a task list of a third autonomous mobile robot, and wherein the first autonomous mobile robot is configured to navigate the location in an attempt to optimize task lists of other autonomous mobile robots. 
     
     
       10. The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing, by the first autonomous mobile robot and to the second autonomous mobile robot, an item being transported by the first autonomous mobile robot, wherein the adjustment to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot includes an indication of that item. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more interfaces; 
 a processor coupled to the one or more interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes; and 
 a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
 encounter an autonomous mobile robot, while navigating a location; 
 receive, from the autonomous mobile robot, a task list of the autonomous mobile robot; 
 determine an adjustment to the task list of the autonomous mobile robot, based in part on a comparison between the task list of the autonomous mobile robot and a task list maintained by the apparatus, and based further on priorities associated with items indicated in the task list of the autonomous mobile robot and the task list maintained by the apparatus; and 
 send, to the autonomous mobile robot, the adjustment to the task list of the autonomous mobile robot, wherein the adjustment is configured to divert the autonomous mobile robot from a portion of a path of its pick route along which the autonomous mobile robot picks up items from the task list of the autonomous mobile robot to deliver to their corresponding delivery locations, to take over, from the apparatus, collection and delivery of an item associated with the task list maintained by the apparatus to its corresponding delivery location. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the task list of the autonomous mobile robot indicates a set of one or more items to be collected by the autonomous mobile robot, an intended route of travel that the autonomous mobile robot intends to travel, and a manifest of any items being transported by the autonomous mobile robot. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the process when executed is further configured to:
 navigating the apparatus within the location, based on the task list maintained by the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus communicates directly with the autonomous mobile robot. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment to the task list of the autonomous mobile robot comprises removing a particular item from the task list of the autonomous mobile robot and adding the particular item to the task list maintained by the apparatus. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment to the task list of the autonomous mobile robot comprises adding a particular item to the task list of the autonomous mobile robot and removing the particular item to the task list maintained by the apparatus. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus encounters the autonomous mobile robot randomly in the location. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the task list maintained by the apparatus is a task list of a second autonomous mobile robot, and wherein the apparatus is configured to navigate the location in an attempt to optimize task lists of other autonomous mobile robots. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the process when executed is further configured to:
 provide, to the autonomous mobile robot, an item being transported by the apparatus, wherein the adjustment to the task list of the autonomous mobile robot includes an indication of that item. 
 
     
     
       20. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a first autonomous mobile robot to execute a process comprising:
 encountering, by the first autonomous mobile robot, a second autonomous mobile robot, while navigating a location; 
 receiving, at the first autonomous mobile robot and from the second autonomous mobile robot, a task list of the second autonomous mobile robot; 
 determining, by the first autonomous mobile robot, an adjustment to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot, based in part on a comparison between the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot and a task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot, and based further on priorities associated with items indicated in the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot and the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot; and 
 sending, by the first autonomous mobile robot and to the second autonomous mobile robot, the adjustment to the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot, wherein the adjustment is configured to divert the second autonomous mobile robot from a portion of a path of its pick route along which the second autonomous mobile robot picks up items from the task list of the second autonomous mobile robot to deliver to their corresponding delivery locations, to take over, from the first autonomous mobile robot, collection and delivery of an item associated with the task list maintained by the first autonomous mobile robot to its corresponding delivery location.